How Women and Allies Can Take Meaningful Action This International Women's Day
In a world where pastel-colored social media campaigns and inspirational quotes flood our feeds each March, many of us are left wondering: what actually changes after International Women's Day? As someone deeply committed to evidence-based wellbeing and meaningful transformation, I've been asking myself how we can move beyond symbolic gestures to create lasting change - both in our individual lives and in our communities. And further, what’s wellbeing got to do with it? … I think I have an answer.
The Uncomfortable Truth About #IWD Celebrations
Let me share something personal. A few years ago, I was invited to speak at an International Women's Day panel in Sydney. As a Perth-based speaker, this meant:
Missing two days of paid work
Covering my own flights and accommodation
Investing approximately $3,000 of my own money
The compensation offered to me was "exposure."
Sadly, this experience isn't unusual for me, or many other women out there in my industry. Our drive to do good and help others somehow translates to … working for free? It reflects a broader pattern where women's expertise is expected for free, and during events meant to celebrate our value it’s quite frankly a huge slap in the face.
Meanwhile, the gender pay gap remains (in Australia, the median gender pay gap currently stands at 19%.), women's earnings drop by an average of 55% after childbirth, and we continue to face systemic barriers in workplaces not designed with us in mind. So we become stuck, lost, disempowered and disillusioned by the systems that shape our world.
Why Wellbeing and Gender Equity Are Inseparable
Here's something the wellness industry doesn't always address: our personal wellbeing is deeply connected to systemic equity.
Research consistently shows that:
Women experiencing workplace discrimination report 2.3 times higher rates of chronic stress
Gender pay disparities directly impact women's ability to invest in preventative healthcare
The "mental load" of unpaid household management contributes significantly to burnout
So real wellbeing isn't just about self-care practices (although of course, they matter!). It's also about creating the kind of conditions where everyone can thrive.
Are you an ally?
A crucial note about allyship: supporting women's advancement isn't a sacrifice for men—it's an opportunity for everyone to thrive together. Research consistently shows that gender-diverse teams and organisations perform better, innovate more effectively, and create healthier workplace cultures. When workplace equity improves:
Men report higher job satisfaction
Work-life balance improves for everyone
Psychological safety increases throughout the organisation
So true allyship isn't charity; it's collaboration toward a workplace that serves everyone in it better.
ARISE: A Framework for Authentic Empowerment
So what can we ALL do about it? How can we create the change we seek and #accelerateaction this International Women’s Day, and way beyond?
Here’s my solution: In the lead up to International Women's Day 2025 I'm introducing a framework for women at or returning to work that I call ARISE. It’s five interconnected elements that support both personal transformation and collective change and I’ve rolled it into a free, 5-day training delivered to your inbox between March 3-7th, 2025. And allies - you are vital to accelerating this action by supporting and sharing it far and wide.
This is what ARISE is all about and here’s a sneak peek of the journey I will be taking a wonderful group of women on next week:
1. ACTION with purpose and clarity
Wellbeing wisdom often emphasises acceptance and "going with the flow," which has its place. But transformation also requires purposeful action.
This means as women we need to be moving beyond perfectionism and taking imperfect action aligned with our values. Research shows that women often wait until they feel 100% ready, while men typically act when they feel 60% prepared.
Try this: Identify one workplace frustration you’re struggling with right now, and transform it into one concrete action step. What small move could create meaningful change?
Action step for allies: Action means moving beyond agreement to advocacy. When you notice gender disparities, speak up—even when no women are in the room.
2. RESILIENCE Against Systemic Barriers
Resilience isn't just about "bouncing back" from individual setbacks—it's about navigating systemic challenges strategically.
This means recognising that the barriers you face as a woman in the workplace aren't personal failings; they're systemic challenges requiring strategic navigation. The goal isn't to "tough it out" but to respond effectively while preserving your energy.
3. IMPACT in Your Organization
Creating impact isn't about working harder—it's about leveraging your influence effectively.
This means ensuring your valuable contributions create the visibility and impact they deserve. Studies show women initiate 62% of collaborative projects but receive credit for only 38% of them.
Try this: Identify your unique sources of influence: expertise, relationships, resources, and character strengths. How can you deploy these more strategically?
Action step for allies: Impact means amplifying women's contributions, ensuring their ideas are attributed correctly, and creating pathways for their leadership.
4. STRENGTH in your unique powers
True strength comes from leveraging your authentic gifts, not trying to fit someone else's leadership mould.
This means recognising and valuing the strengths that come naturally to you, even (especially!) the ones you take for granted. Research shows women are 48% less likely than men to identify their natural talents as "special skills."
Try this: Notice when you lose track of time because you're so engaged. What patterns emerge about your natural strengths?
Action step for allies: Strength means creating cultures that value diverse, differing leadership approaches.
5. EMPOWERMENT through integration
Authentic empowerment requires integrating all these elements into a sustainable practice.
This means developing your own leadership vision based on your values, strengths, and desired impact—regardless of traditional expectations or perceived limitations.
Try this: Write your leadership vision in 100 words or less. What change are you uniquely positioned to create?
Action step for allies: Empowerment means creating conditions where women can lead authentically, without having to conform to narrow definitions of leadership. Let’s raise them up!
From Hashtags to Habits: Making #AccelerateAction real
This year's International Women's Day theme is #AccelerateAction—a call not just for momentary awareness but for sustained momentum toward gender equity. And I’m here for it!
Here's how we can make that real:
Transform frustration into focused action. What specific step can you take today to address a gender equity gap?
Build strategic resilience practices. How can you navigate barriers while preserving your energy?
Amplify your impact. Where can you create meaningful change that aligns with your values?
Leverage your unique strengths. What natural gifts can you deploy more strategically?
Integrate these elements into your daily practice. How will you continue this work beyond International Women's Day?
Remember: Real transformation happens through consistent practice, not one-day celebrations. Let’s commit to keeping the positive momentum going, together.
Taking the First Step: ARISE Together TODAY!
This International Women's Day, I invite you to move beyond symbolic gestures and take meaningful action—whether as a woman navigating workplace challenges or as an ally committed to creating change.
Because when we ARISE together, combining personal empowerment with collective action, we create ripples of transformation that extend far beyond a single day of recognition.
If you'd like to dive deeper into the training, I'm offering a free 5-day ARISE Journey for women in the workplace / returning to work, starting on March 3rd.
It’s free to register and places are limited, sign up now!
What's one action you'll take this International Women's Day to create meaningful change? Share in the comments below
#accelerateaction #iwd2025 #arise2025